Poll: Has anyone else had this problem with polls?

[MoNKeyYy]

I've noticed something about polls on the Escapist that's been troubling me. All the polls have a bunch of stupid jerk off answers or indecisive half way answers, even if the question is fairly black and white. Why do people feel it's nessesary to add stupid answers that make accurate answers difficult to aquire? How is "I like cookies" relevant to the complex social issues or otherwise relevant topics polls discuss? I've even done it before, before realizing how silly it is. And for that matter, why do people always put "maybe" ore "sometimes" in polls? An option for "other, please explain" is fine but why would you put in something like sometimes? The poll is supposed to get a general idea of where people stand on a certain issue, people's exact feelings towards something should be discussed in the comments.

So has anyone else noticed this? Do people think it's as silly as I do? Or does the escapist actually encourage this kind of thing and I just haven't realized it in my time here?

 

[Marter]

I think they do it to seem clever. Yes, they are silly, and yes, I'd like to see them stop, but in the end, it doesn't matter.

Just select the option that best represents your opinion, and don't worry about it.

 

[Darth IB]

I like those options. They are funny, and are a way to say "I have no opinion but still like to vote."

 

[IBlackKiteI]

I know, its ridiculous and just fucks things up.

Don't worry about it man, its not goin' away.

 

[spartan1077]

Some people have said that it is stupid and some people have said that it's hilarious. I believe if you can't participate in that poll because you have no standpoint, then you can vote on "I like pancakes" Although I do hate them.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

It won't go away no matter how many people vote yes on this poll. Its just a silly way to seem clever in the end and almost everyone does it. Its like a bad meme. It was funny at one point, but now everyone seems to do it and it has quickly lost its appeal.

 

[IBlackKiteI]

I like those options. They are funny, and are a way to say "I have no opinion but still like to vote."

They're not funny, and even those with opinions often pick them just for the hell of it anyway.

If you had a poll like, 'Do you like ZP?' with the option of yes, no, and I like pancakes then that messes up the results significantly.

The worst thing is when someone asks a pretty good question with dumb poll options, then when the poll turns out saying 'I like pancakes' and 'Tacos are awesome' they go for whichever of the actual answers to the question had the most votes, say that Pancakes has 100 votes, Tacos has 50, No has 5 and yes has none. No and yes have few votes because of the others.
Now lets say the actual question was something like, 'Do you approve of stem cell research?'
The creator of the poll now believes that the majority of users disapprove of stem cell research, because they asked a decent question with ridiculous poll options.

Thats just an example, but that sort of thing happens pretty often, and it sucks.

 

[kebab4you]

I like those options. They are funny, and are a way to say "I have no opinion but still like to vote."

Pretty much this, also we need more vote for santa!

 

[Darth IB]

I like those options. They are funny, and are a way to say "I have no opinion but still like to vote."

They're not funny, and even those with opinions often pick them just for the hell of it anyway.

If you had a poll like, 'Do you like ZP?' with the option of yes, no, and I like pancakes then that messes up the results significantly.

The worst thing is when someone asks a pretty good question with dumb poll options, then when the poll turns out saying 'I like pancakes' and 'Tacos are awesome' they go for whichever of the actual answers to the question had the most votes, say that Pancakes has 100 votes, Tacos has 50, No has 5 and yes has none. No and yes have few votes because of the others.
Now lets say the actual question was something like, 'Do you approve of stem cell research?'
The creator of the poll now believes that the majority of users disapprove of stem cell research, because they asked a decent question with ridiculous poll options.

Thats just an example, but that sort of thing happens pretty often, and it sucks.

To be fair, maybe using a poll on some internet forum isn't the very best method of gathering data. And when it comes down to it, those who have a strong enough opinion on the question will vote for their opinion, not the joke.